Display

Abstract

A display for displaying variable and permanent data. It has two support plates 1 and 2 which form between themselves a chamber 3 in which a fluid which can be switched between optically different states is arranged. Polarizers are arranged on the sides of the support plates 1 and 2 which face away from the chamber 3. In the region of permanent data, transparent elements 14 are present between the support plates 1 and 2. Furthermore, a source of light 15 is arranged on the side of the cell facing away from the observer. The variable data consists of bright data against a dark background. The observer's side of the cell is provided with a light-impervious layer 8 which has cutouts 9 and 10 in the region of the variable data as well as in correspondence with the permanent data. A transflective layer is disposed in the cutput region to enable viewing the cutout region and permanent data via incident light.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a display having at least one region for displaying variable data and at least one region for displaying permanent data, particularly a liquid crystal cell, said display having two support plates which form a chamber therebetween, and a fluid which can be switched between optically different states being located in said chamber, said display further comprising polarizers positioned on surfaces of the support plates facing away from the chamber, transparent elements being located between the support plates in the region of the permanent data, and a source of light positioned on a back side of the cell facing away from an observer located in front of an observer side of the cell, the improvement wherein the variable data are bright data on a dark background located in a variable-data region; said cell further comprising   a light-impervious layer on the observer side of the cell,   said light-impervious layer having a first cutout in a region of the variable data and a second cutout in a region corresponding to the permanent data, one of said polarizers being located on the observer side of said chamber; and wherein   the observer side of the cell is provided with a transflective layer disposed between said light-impervious layer and said one polarizer in the region of the cutout for the permanent data to enable a viewing of permanent data by light incident upon said observer side of the display and also by light transmitted through the display from a location behind the display.   
     
     
       2. The display according to claim 1, wherein optically switchable fluid is present between a plurality of said transparent elements located in the region of the permanent data.   
     
     
       3. The display according to claim 2, wherein said display further comprises an adhesive;   the transparent elements being transparent spacer elements bound in said adhesive.   
     
     
       4. The display according to claim 3, wherein said spacer elements are spheres or fibers of glass.   
     
     
       5. The display according to claim 3, wherein the transparent spacer elements are distributed in the entire chamber outside the regions of the variable data.   
     
     
       6. The display according to claim 5, wherein the transparent spacer elements are distributed uniformly over the plane of the chamber.   
     
     
       7. The display according to claim 6, wherein the transparent spacer elements are applied by a printing process to one of said support plates.   
     
     
       8. In a liquid crystal display having support plates defining a chamber, a liquid which can be switched between optical states disposed in said chamber, and polarizers disposed on surfaces of said support plates facing away from said chamber, the improvement wherein said display further comprises a set of spacers of transparent material disposed within a first portion of said chamber for a display of permanent data; and   an electrode structure for optically switching said liquid, said electrode structure being disposed in a second portion of said chamber away from said set of spacers for a display of variable data, one of said polarizers being located on the observer side of said chamber;   a light-impervious layer disposed on the observer side of said one polarizer, said light-impervious layer being located only in a region of the display presenting permanent data and having a cut-out defining the permanent data; and wherein   the observer side of the display is provided with a transflective layer disposed between said light-impervious layer and said one polarizer only in the region of the permanent data to enable a viewing of permanent data by light incident upon said observer side of the display and also by light transmitted through the display from a location behind the display while retaining a viewing of the variable data.   
     
     
       9. The liquid crystal display according to claim 8, wherein light emanating behind said display can propagate through said polarizers and said plates and said spacers to the observer side of said display for illuminating the permanent data.   
     
     
       10. The liquid crystal display according to claim 9, further comprising a layer of material on the observer side of said display located at a site of the permanent data and away from a site of the variable data for displaying the permanent data in response to either light incident on the observer side or a back side of said display.   
     
     
       11. The liquid crystal display according to claim 10, wherein said spacers are spaced apart from each other to permit the liquid to pass therebetween to reach said electrode structure.   
     
     
       12. The liquid crystal display according to claim 11, further comprising an optically impervious layer having a first cutout region defining an area of display of the permanent data and a second cutout region defining an area of display of the variable data.